The USDA strongly encourages eligible conservation partners to submit proposals for $10 million in available funds to research the Conservation Reserve Program’s environmental benefits.

The 2024-2025 U.S. corn outlook calls for larger supplies, greater domestic use and exports, and higher ending stocks.

The newly appointed CEO of the Soy Checkoff, Lucas Lentsch, has been hitting the road to visit soybean farmers across the nation.

Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) introduced legislation to streamline the permitting process for broadband infrastructure projects. Story Credit: NAFB News Service

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s seventh annual Farm Dog of the Year Contest, co-sponsored by Nestle Purina Pet Care, celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers.

Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, talks about policy development in D.C. and how it could impact consumers' pocketbooks.

In this week's episode of AGRI-BIZ, Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich share audio from the field regarding planting progress ranging across the region from Williams County, North Dakota to the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative in Renville, Minnesota.  Also, trade delegations from Africa and Cambodia visited the area this week to learn more about the region's corn and soybean production.

The Dakota Resource Council will host a "Conversation about Ranching" on Tuesday, June 4th at the Kennedy Center in Bismarck, ND.  Rusty Halvorson talked with DRC's Ag and Food Field Organizer Sam Wagner and cow/calf operator Cory Hart of Chaseley, ND, about the event.  Topics will include electronic ID tag requirements for cattle, country of origin labeling of beef, North Dakota's beef checkoff program, and programs within farm bill.

A recent Rabobank report says the global pork industry is starting to shift as sow herd numbers begin to plateau after declining for some time.

Low commodity prices, high input costs, and disappointing 2023 growing season results are influencing farmer decisions in 2024.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service announced in April that it would cancel the July Cattle inventory report, and discontinued county yield and production estimates for crops and livestock for 2024.  Troy Joshua, NASS director of the statistics division, says that the budget forced NASS "to make decisions that are very uncomfortable."  However, Joshua says the county level data could return if the funding was restored.

Rusty Halvorson talked with Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative's Ag Strategy Manager Cody Bakker about planting, weed control and the slicing campaign of the '23 crop for the Renville, Minnesota, cooperative.

Some much needed rain arrived in northwestern North Dakota this week. Kelly Leo NDSU Extension Ag and Natural Resources Agent for Williams County talks more about planting progress in the area.

U.S.-grown soybean oil is being used as a concrete durability enhancer in roads.

This Farm Talk Segment is brought to you by North Dakota Corn. Registration is open for a free 2-day workshop for North Dakota teachers – Feeding and Fueling the World. The workshop is focused on integrating the science of modern food production into their classrooms and career technical education programs. Jean Henning with the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council encourages teachers from across the state to get signed up. This event is taking place June 19-20. If you would like to get signed up, registration is open.

The recent WASDE report contained some surprises in the world’s soybean production estimates. Mac Marshall, vice president of market intelligence for the United Soybean Board, says the market was looking for a cut in Brazil’s soybean production.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, more commonly known as NASA, made an appearance at the 2024 Washington Watch event in D.C. Story Credit: NAFB News Service

According to the latest Crop Progress report from USDA, in Minnesota corn planting was 42 percent complete, 17 percent of the soybeans are in the ground and more than half of the spring wheat crop has been planted. 

Senators Chuck Grassley, Amy Klobuchar and John Cornyn are calling for enhanced interagency coordination in the federal response to the avian flu outbreak. 

The value of U.S. beef exports in March was the highest since June of 2023 at just under $890 million, according to Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

South Dakota Farmers Union is hosting its annual photo contest, Celebrating Life on the Family Farm & Ranch May 1 – July 31, 2024. The winning photographer receives $250.

The average price received by farmers for corn during March 2024 in Minnesota was $4.26 per bushel according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Agricultural Prices report. This was 2.21 below March 2023.

U.S. Trade Representative’s Office Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip talking about efforts to open up the Port of Baltimore.

CropLife America commissioned the University of Arkansas to conduct a three-year assessment that evaluates the environmental benefits and impacts of pesticide application on corn, cotton, and soybeans.

U.S. ag groups are reacting to the House and Senate Ag Committee leaders who released their farm bill overviews.

House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson and Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow each released overviews of each committee’s version of the new farm bill last week.

In this week's episode of AGRI-BIZ, Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich cover the top headlines in agriculture.  Planting in cool and wet soils, GREET model guidelines for biofuels released this week, predictive AI in agriculture, NDSU sheep auction, buying local at Alsager Meats, and more.

Spring weather has been very active in parts of farm country. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey explains more about the expected weather pattern. 

For the tenth straight year, Culver’s is offering guests a single scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard in exchange for a $1 donation to local FFA chapters and other agricultural education organizations.

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency reminds agricultural producers that Farm Loan Programs can be used to support a variety of climate-smart practices.

This Farm Talk segment is brought to you by North Dakota Corn. The Biden administration released guidance on its sustainable aviation fuel subsidy program that allows corn-based ethanol to qualify for the program if it’s sourced from farms using climate-friendly growing techniques. Andrew Mauch serves as President of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association. 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has affected dairy herds in several states. Mike North, Producer Division President with Ever.Ag, talks about how the markets have reacted to the news. NAFB News Service 

Mike Strantz, vice president of advocacy with the National Farmers Union, talks about areas inside the bill that are important to the National Farmers Union. NAFB News Service

The difference in Brazil’s soybean production estimates from USDA and Brazil’s counterpart is quite large in 2024. NAFB News Service

More consumers are placing growing importance on buying sustainable, local food products - including at the meat counter.   Rusty Halvorson recently talked with fifth generation rancher Josh Alsager of Walcott, North Dakota, about his family's long history in sustainable beef production.  Alsager is also co-owner of Alsager Meats of Audubon, MN and Fargo, ND.

Farmers in Minnesota are making some planting progress. According to the latest crop progress report from USDA, corn planting was 30 percent complete, 14 percent of the soybeans are in the ground, and half of the oats and spring wheat crops have been planted.

Farmers National Company reports that overall farmland demand remains extraordinarily strong and land values are holding steady in most areas.

Studies show that farmer suicide rates are several times higher than the national average. Jessica Cabrera, managing director of member engagement with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says mental health among farmers and ranchers is an important topic.

The USDA released its 2024 Prospective Plantings Report in March. Mac Marshall, vice president of market intelligence for the United Soybean Board, talks about the soybean numbers that stood out in the report.

Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation has the details.

The ethanol industry and its backers in Congress have a new concern over the Environmental Protection Agency’s handling of summertime E15 sales, allowed so far on a temporary summer-to-summer basis.

After weeks of paying higher prices, those increases at the gas pump may be nearing a halt as refineries complete the transition from winter to summer gas blends. 

USDA recently wrapped up a successful trade mission to New Delhi, India. Alexis Taylor, USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, says the first mission to India in seven years was very productive.

About 13 percent of U.S. farms participated in Federal crop insurance programs in 2022, with the highest share from small family farms.

In this week's episode of AGRI-BIZ, Cass County 4-H signs up a new round of kids for the Livestock Enhancement Program at the Red River Valley Fair, sugarbeet planting leaps forward in the region, researchers at the NDSU Carrington Research Center are gearing up for the growing season, USDA is trying to get ahead of bird flu in dairy cattle, and more.

Oklahoma State University Livestock Market Economist, Derrell Peel, talks about the April Cattle on Feed Report released on April 19,

The Rural Development Finance Corporation has issued its first loan through the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program, which offers low-interest financing for the start-up, expansion or operation of regional meat processing facilities, to Kramlich-Deede Meats in Medina.

The last couple of years have seen outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the spring and fall as temperatures change. However, this year has seen an unusual outbreak of the virus among dairy cattle. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, provides an update

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says above normal temperatures and precipitation will be predominant across much of the nation during the period of April 30 - May 6.

U.S. sunflower oil exports in the first five months of the marketing year stand at 11,045 metric tons (MT) a slight decrease of 1,407 MT from the same time a year ago.